Two-functional-group-containing terpenoids, processes for the preparation of the same, and anti-ulcer agents containing the same

ABSTRACT

A process for the preparation of a two-functional-group-containing terpenoid having the general formula: ##STR1## in which n is an integer of from 1 to 5, R represents a hydroxymethyl, formyl or carboxyl group, and A represents the hydrogen atom, or a 2-tetrahydropyranyl, benzyl, methoxymethol or methoxyethoxymethyl group comprising the oxidation with a microorganism belonging to the genus Nocardia. Some of the terpenoids are of value as anti-ulcer agents, while others are useful as intermediates.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 221,163, filed Dec. 29, 1980,now U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,251.

This invention relates to terpenoids containing two functional groupsand having the general formula (I): ##STR2## in which n is an integer offrom 1 to 5, R represents a hydroxymethyl, formyl or carboxyl group, andA represents hydrogen, or a 2-tetrahydropyranyl, benzyl, methoxymethylor methoxyethoxymethyl group, provided that when A is one of the groupsother than hydrogen, R represents a carboxyl group, a process for thepreparation of such terpenoids by oxidation of a compound having theformula (I) wherein R is methyl and A is 2-tetrahydropyranyl, benzyl,methoxymethyl or methoxyethoxymethyl, with a microorganism, and ananti-ulcer composition containing such a terpenoid.

Japanese Patent Provisional Publication Nos. 54(1979)-70430 and54(1979)-76513 respectively describe that certain chain structure-type(acyclic) terpenoids containing a hydroxyl group at one terminal andesters of such terpenoids have a hypotensive activity.

According to this invention, it has been found that a compound of thegeneral formula (I), in which A is hydrogen, is effective as ananti-ulcer agent.

According to another aspect of this invention, it has been found that acompound of the general formula (I) is of value as an intermediate forthe preparation of pharmaceutically active compounds, such as apolyprenyl alcohol.

The polyprenyl alcohol is of value, from one aspect, as a hypotensiveagent, and is also of value for forming the side-chain of thepharmaceutically active coenzyme Q. The polyprenyl alcohol can beprepared from a compound of the general formula (I) in which R is thehydroxymethyl group, and A is a protecting group for the hydroxyl groupsuch as a 2-tetrahydropyranyl, benzyl, methoxymethyl ormethoxyethoxymethyl group, via the carbon chain prolonging reactionillustrated below: ##STR3##

In the above equations, l and m are integers and Y represents theprotecting group for the hydroxyl group. R¹ is a C₁ -C₄ alkyl or arylsuch as benzene and toluene.

Accordingly, a compound of the general formula (I) can be used, per se,as an intermediate for preparing the polyprenyl alcohol, provided thatin the starting compound of the general formula (I), R represents thehydroxymethyl group and A represents a 2-tetrahydropyranyl, benzyl,methoxymethyl or methoxyethoxymethyl group. A compound of the generalformula (I) in which R represents a formyl or carboxyl group and/or Arepresents hydrogen can be also used as the intermediate if the formylor carboxyl group is reduced to form the hydroxymethyl group and/or thehydrogen atom is protected by an appropriate protecting group.

As for a process for oxidizing a terminal group of a chainstructure-type terpenoid having a functional group at the otherterminal, it is disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No.53(1978)-103445 that a chain structure terpenoid having at one terminala hydroxyl group protected by a protecting group is oxidized by the useof selenium oxide to change the other terminal group into a formyl groupand then is reduced. This process, however, shows a poor yield in theoxidation step. This tendency is prominent, particularly on the reactionof a compound having a longer carbon atom chain. Further, it is notedthat the oxidizing step inherently yields an organic selenium compoundas a by-product. The separation of the thus-produced by-product from thedesired compound is very difficult even by a method such as columnchromatography or distillation. The organic selenium compound is knownto be toxic to human beings. Therefore, the above-mentioned process isnot preferable as a process for the preparation of an intermediate forsynthesizing a pharmaceutically active compound.

In view of the above-described problem, the present inventors studied aprocess utilizing a microorganism and discovered that a microorganismoxidation, utilizing a microorganism belonging to the genus Nocardia,can be employed for the preparation of the desired compound, therebyeliminating the above-described problem. The present process utilizingthe Nocardia microorganism enables the mass production of the desiredcompound by enlarging the size of the cultivating system. Moreover theunreacted reactant can be readily recovered and then reused as thestarting reactant.

A representative strain among those belonging to the genus Nocardia andwhich is advantageously employed in the present invention is one namedBPM 1613 that has been deposited with the Fermentation ResearchInstitute, the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology at 1-1-3,Higashi, Tsukuba-Yatabe-machi,Ibaraki-prefecture, Japan, and has beenadded to its collection of microorganisms under the designation FERM-PNo. 1609. The mycological characteristics of the representative strainnamed BPM 1613 are given below. The color is expressed according to the"Color Standard" published by Nippon Shikisai Kenkyusho (Japan ColorResearch Center), Japan.

A. Form of Cells

The present strain shows a characteristic orange to pink color in almostall culture media, as seen from the following cultural characteristics.A young vegetative cell grows in a myceloid form, and branching israrely observed. In an aged cultivated system, the hypha is divided toform a bacillus (0.4-0.6×1.8-2.4 mm). Gram positive. No flagellum.Negative on the acid-fast stain according to the Ziehl-Neelsen method.Aerial mycelium is not observed.

B. Cultural Characteristics on Various Media

(1) Sucrose--Nitrate Agar Medium (30° C.): poor growth, pink coloredcolony, no diffusive pigment

(2) Glucose--Asparagine Agar Medium (30° C.): no growth

(3) Glycerol--Asparagine Agar Medium (30° C.): poor growth, pink coloredcolony, no diffusive pigment

(4) Starch Agar Medium (30° C.): no growth

(5) Tyrosine Agar Medium (30° C.): poor growth, grayish white coloredcolony, no diffusive pigment

(6) Nutrient Agar Medium (30° C.): moderate growth, orange coloredcolony, no diffusive pigment

(7) Yeast--Malt Agar Medium (30° C.): rich growth, orange coloredcolony, no diffusive pigment

(8) Oatmeal Agar Medium (30° C.): moderate growth, orange coloredcolony, no diffusive pigment

(9) Calcium Malate Agar Medium (27° C.): moderate growth, pink coloredcolony

(10) Egg-albumin Medium (slant, 27° C.): poor growth, white colony

(11) Potato Section Medium (27° C.): moderate growth, pale orangecolored colony

(12) Carrot Section Medium (27° C.): moderate growth, pale orangecolored colony

C. Physiological Characteristics

(1) Growth Temperature Range (on Nutrient Agar Medium, slant): 20°-42°C.

(2) Liquefaction of Gelatin: negative

(3) Hydrolysis of Starch: negative

(4) Coagulation of Defatted Milk, Peptonization: negative

(5) Litmus Milk: no change

(6) Production of Melanine-like pigment: negative

(7) Reduction of Nitrate: positive

(8) No gas or acid production from L-arabinose, D-xylose, D-glucose,D-fructose, sucrose, D-mannitol, glycerol, lactose, D-galactose,D-mannose, maltose, trehalose, starch

(9) Catalase Test: negative

(10) Production of Indole: negative

(11) Production of Hydrogen Sulfide: negative

D. Assimilability for Various Carbon Sources

(Pridham-Gottlieb Agar Medium, 30° C., 7 days) L-arabinose (+), D-xylose(+), D-glucose (++), D-fructose (++), sucrose (++), inositol (+),L-rhamnose (-), raffinose (+), D-mannitol (+) (In the above, (++) meansmoderate growth, (+) poor growth, and (-) no growth.)

The above-identified strain having been cultivated on the GlycerolKelner Morton Medium in accordance with the method of Arai et aldescribed in Journal of General Applied Microbiology, 9, 119 (1963): TheActinomycetales, The Jena International Symposium on Taxonomy, 273(1968)) gives absorption bands characteristic of the genus Nocardia onthe IR spectrum, that is, I: C & E types, II: C type, III: C type, IV: Dtype.

Upon studying the above-described characteristics of the strain withreference to Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, Seventhedition, and Waksman's The Actinomycetes, Volumn 2, the strain isdetermined to belong to the genus Nocardia.

A process for the preparation of the compound of the present inventionis described hereinbelow.

In the first stage, a microorganism belonging to the genus Nocardia andshowing an oxidizing activity for a compound having the general formula(II): ##STR4## in which A' represents a 2-tetrahydropyranyl, benzyl,methoxymethyl or methoxyethoxymethyl group, and n is an integer of from1 to 5, is cultivated in a culture medium containing a compound of thegeneral formula (II) as the carbon source. Then, the thus-producedcompound having the general formula (III): ##STR5## in which Rrepresents a hydroxymethyl, formyl or carboxyl group, and n and A' havethe same meanings as defined above, is recovered from the culturemedium. Finally, the protecting group is eliminated from the compound ofthe general formula (III) to obtain a compound having the generalformula (IV): ##STR6## in which R and n have the same meanings asdefined above.

There is no specific limitation on the microorganism of the presentinvention belonging to the genus Nocardia, provided that it has anoxidizing activity for a compound of the general formula (II). Examplesof these microorganisms include the strain of BPM 1613, FERM-P No. 1609,as specified hereinbefore.

Details of the cultivating procedures are as follows.

In addition to the compound of the general formula (II) included as thecarbon source, sources of other nutrients for the cultivation can beselected from conventional ones. As the nitrogen source, there can bementioned nitrates such as potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, andammonium nitrate, ammonium salts such as ammonium chloride, ammoniumsulfate and ammonium phosphate, ammonia, and urea. Other inorganic saltssuch as potassium phosphate, sodium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, ferricsulfate and manganese sulfate, and other organic nutrient sources suchas vitamins, amino acids, and yeast extracts, corn steep liquors andmalt extracts containing these nutrients can be further incorporated inthe medium, if necessary. The medium is preferably adjusted to bealkaline, for instance, in the range of pH 7-10. The cultivation isconveniently carried out at 20°-40° C., for 3-5 days, and under anaerobic condition, such as by effecting the cultivation with aerationand stirring.

Upon completion of the cultivation, the cultivated medium is extractedwith an organic solvent to recover a compound of the general formula(III). As the extracting solvent, there can be employed ethyl ether,benzene, chloroform, etc. The compound of the general formula (III) canbe separated and purified on a column of silica gel.

The unreacted reactants can be recovered through the above-mentionedextracting procedure and column chromatography, in approximately 80-90%recovery, and employed again as the reactants for another cycle.

The compound having a hydroxymethyl, formyl or carboxyl group at theterminal can be obtained depending upon the extent of themicrobiological oxidation. Further, the configuration of the resultingproduct can be varied by varying the cultivating conditions, theprotecting group of the hydroxyl group of the starting compound, etc.

The elimination of the protecting group from a compound of the generalformula (III) can be carried out in a conventional manner, depending onthe protecting group to be eliminated. For instance, thetetrahydropyranyl, methoxymethyl and methoxyethoxymethyl groups can beeliminated under an acidic condition, and the benzyl group can beeliminated under a reductive condition.

The results of the pharmacological and toxicity tests on the compound ofthe present invention are set forth below.

(1) Effect on Cold-Restaint Stress Ulcer

The inhibition effect of the test compound on the cold-restaint stressulcer was determined according to the Levine' method [Proc. Soc. Exptl.Biol. Med., Vol. 124, Page 1221 (1967)] using rats (SD family, female,weight about 170 g, 8-10 weeks age). The test compounds are set forthbelow.

12-Hydroxy-2,6,10-trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrienoic acid--(Compound A)

2,6,10,14-Tetramethyl-2,6,10,14-hexadecatetraene-1,16-diol--(Compound B)

16-Hydroxy-2,6,10,14-tetramethyl-2,6,10,14-hexadecatetraenoicacid--(Compound C)

20-Hydroxy-2,6,10,14,18-pentamethyl-2,6,10,14,18-eicosapentaenoicacid--(Compound D)

The inhibition ratios on the occurrence of the cold restrictive stressulcer obtained by the present procedures are set forth in Table 1.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Test Compound Inhibition Ratio (%)                                            ______________________________________                                        Compound    A     74.6                                                                    B     70.8                                                                    C     79.2                                                                    D     49.5                                                        ______________________________________                                    

(2) Toxicity Test

Each of the compounds B and C was administered orally to a rat (SDfamily, female, weight about 200 g) in the dosage of 5,000 mg/Kg. Nodeath was observed for each test.

As is apparent from these pharmacological and toxicity tests, thecompound of the present invention is of value as an anti-ulcer agent.When the compound of the invention is intended to be used as ananti-ulcer agent, it is generally administered orally or parenterally toa human being in the dosage of 50-1,000 mg/day, for an adult. Theadministration is conventionally performed in the form of granules,tablets, capsules or injectable solutions. These pharmaceutical unitdosage forms can be prepared in a conventional manner using conventionalpharmaceutical carriers.

The present invention is further described by reference to the followingillustrative Examples. Example Preparation of Starting Compound ##STR7##

(1) Tetrahydropyranyl ether (A'=tetrahydropyranyl)

In methylene chloride were dissolved 15 g of3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2,6,10,14-hexadecatetraen-1-ol and 1.5 g ofp-toluenesulfonic acid, and to the solution was dropwise added, understirring, 8.7 g of 2,3-dihydropyran, at 0°-5° C. and over a period of 30min. The resulting solution was further stirred at 0°-5° C. for 30 min.,and then washed with an aqueous sodium carbonate solution in aseparatory funnel. The solution was concentrated after the washing, andthe concentrated solution was purified over a silica gel column to give13 g of1-(2-tetrahydropyranyl)oxy-3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-1,2,6,10,14-hexadecatetraene(yield 68%).

Other tetrahydropyranyl ethers were prepared in the same manner asdescribed above.

(2) Benzyl ether (A'=benzyl)

To 100 ml of benzyl chloride were added 15 g of3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2,6,10,14-hexadecatetraen-1-ol and 6.0 g of finelydivided potassium hydroxide, and the resulting mixture was refluxedunder stirring for 2 hours. The mixture was cooled and then to themixture was added 1 liter of hexane. The hexane solution was then washedwith water and concentrated. The concentrate was purified over a silicagel column to give 12 g of1-benzyloxy-3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2,6,10,14-hexadecatetraene (yield61%).

Other benzyl ethers were prepared in the same manner as described above.

The yields and NMR spectral data of the thus-obtained tetrahydropyranyland benzyl ethers are summarized in Table 2.

                                      TABLE 2                                     __________________________________________________________________________     ##STR8##                                                                     n A'        Yield (%)                                                                           NMR (δ, CDCl.sub.3)                                   __________________________________________________________________________       ##STR9## 82    1.22˜1.84 (6H), 1.61 (3H, s), 1.68 (6H, s),                             1.84˜2.31 (4H), 3.35˜4.36 (4H), 4.61 (1H,                         br), 5.11 (1H, br), 5.36 (1H, t, J=7)                         2                                                                              ##STR10##                                                                              76    1.20˜1.84 (6H), 1.61 (6H, s), 1.68 (6H, s),                             1.84˜2.32 (8H), 3.32˜4.36 (4H), 4.61 (1H,                         br), 5.10 (2H, br), 5.35 (1H, t, J=7)                         3                                                                              ##STR11##                                                                              68    1.13˜1.80 (6H), 1.62 (9H, s), 1.70 (6H, s),                             1.80˜2.30 (12H), 3.40˜4.35 (4H), 4.60 (1H,                        br), 5.12 (3H, br), 5.38 (1H, t, J=7)                         4                                                                              ##STR12##                                                                              71    1.21˜1.80 (6H), 1.62 (12H, s), 1.69 (6H, s),                            1.78˜2.28 (16H), 3.38˜4.36 (4H), 4.61 (1H,                        br), 5.11 (4H, b r)., 5.36 (1H, t, J=7)                       5                                                                              ##STR13##                                                                              78    1.32˜1.76 (6H), 1.60 (15H, s), 1.68 (6H, s),                            1.78˜2.32 (20H), 3.32˜4.36 (4H), 4.61 (1H,                        br), 5.10 (5H, br), 5.35 (1H, t, J=7)                         2                                                                              ##STR14##                                                                              85    1.59 (6H, s), 1.65 (6H, s), 1.80˜2.30 (8H), 4.01                        (2H, d, J=7), 4.49 (2H, s), 5.10 (2H, br), 5.39 (1H,                          J=7), 7.08˜7.42 (5H)                                    3                                                                              ##STR15##                                                                              61    1.63 (9H, s), 1.68 (6H, s), 1.82˜2.30 (12H), 4.05                       2H, d, J=7), 4.55 (2H, s), 5.16 (3H, br), 5.46 (1H, t,                        J=7), 7.10˜7.45 (5H)                                    4                                                                              ##STR16##                                                                              88    1.61 (12H, s), 1.67 (6H, s), 1.80˜2.30 (16H),                           4.03 (2H, d, J=7), 4.51 (2H, s), 5.13 (4H, br), 5.40                          (1H, t, J=7), 7.12˜7.47 (5H)                          __________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLE 1 ##STR17##

(a) Microbiological oxidation

On 50 ml of a medium (pH 7.2) containing 1% of the compound prepared inthe aforementioned example for the preparation of starting compound,0.25% of NH₄ NO₃, 0.15% of KH₂ PO₄, 0.15% of Na₂ HPO₄, 0.05% ofMgSO₄.7H₂ O, 0.001% of FeSO₄.7H₂ O, 0.001% of CaCl₂.2H₂ O and 0.002% ofyeast extract was inoculated, in an 8% volume ratio, a culture solutionin which the strain belonging to the genus Nocardia (BPM-1613, FERM-PNo. 1609) had been shaken-cultivated at 30° C. for 2 days on a culturemedium (the latter medium having the same composition as thefirst-mentioned medium defined above, except that 1% of the startingcompound had been replaced with 0.5% of n-paraffin). The thus-inoculatedmedium was shaken-cultivated at 30° C. for 5 days in a 500 ml volumeshouldered flask. After the cultivation was complete, the medium wasextracted with diethyl ether under acidic condition (pH 2) of sulfuricacid. The solvent was then evaporated, and the residue was purified overa silica gel column. The development was carried out with hexane anddiethyl ether.

The products obtained in the above-described manner are set forth inTable 3, together with data such as physical condition, yield, massspectrum and NMR spectrum. The products obtained by the oxidation wereobserved to be mixtures of the alcohol, aldehyde and carboxylic acid,according to the silica gel thin layer chromatographic data. In Table 3,the main products only are set forth. The NMR spectral data for thecarboxylic acids are set forth based on the measurement on methyl estersof the carboxylic acids.

                                      TABLE 3                                     __________________________________________________________________________     ##STR18##                                                                                      Physical                                                                      State Mass                                                  n A'        R     Yield (%)                                                                           (M+)                                                                              NMR (δ, CDCl.sub.3)                         __________________________________________________________________________       ##STR19##                                                                              HOOC OHC                                                                            Oil 8.00 Oil 1.2                                                                    268 252                                                                           (as methyl ester) 1.40˜1.75 (6H), 1.70                                  (3H, s), 1.83 (3H, s), 2.06˜2.50 (4H),                                  3.36˜4.36 (4H), 4.63 (1H, br), 5.39                                     (1H, t, J=7), 6.87 (1H, t, J=7), 10.48 (1H,                                   br) 1.40˜1.88 (6H), 1.68 (3H, s), 1.75                                  (3H, s), 1.96˜2.36 (4H),                                                3.37˜4.32 (4H), 4.60 (1H, br), 5.30                                     (1H, t, J=7), 6.46 (1H, t, J=6), 9.38 (1H,                                    s)                                                  2                                                                              ##STR20##                                                                              HOOC  Oil 4.36                                                                            336  (as methyl ester) 1.20˜1.90 (6H), 1.60                                 (3H, s), 1.68 (3H, s), 1.84 (3H, s),                                          1.90˜2.40 (8H), 3.32˜4.35 (4H),                                   3.73 (3H, s), 4.60 (1H, br), 5.12 (1H, br),                                   5.35 (1H, t, J=7), 6.72 (1H, t, J=7)                3                                                                              ##STR21##                                                                              HOH.sub.2 C HOOC                                                                    Oil 14.2 Oil 19.6                                                                   390 404                                                                           1.20˜1.82 (6H), 1.62 (6H, s), 1.68 (3H,                                 s), 1.80˜2.28 (3H), 3.38˜4.37                                     (4H), 3.97 (2H, s), 4.63 (1H, br), 5.12 (2H,                                  br), 5.37 (2H, br) (as methyl ester)                                          1.35˜1.80 (6H), 1.60 (6H, s), 1.70 (3H,                                 s), 1.84 (3H, s), 1.92˜2.43 (12H),                                      3.36˜4.40 (4H), 4.62 (1H, br), 5.12                                     (2H, br), 5.37 (1H, t, J=7), 6.86 (1H, t,                                     J=7), 10.60 (1H, br)                                4                                                                              ##STR22##                                                                              HOOC HOH.sub.2 C                                                                    Oil 22.6 Oil 14.8                                                                   472 458                                                                           (as methyl ester) 1.30˜1.80 (6H), 1.62                                  (9H, s), 1.69 (3H, s), 1.84 (3H, s),                                          1.90˜2.45 (16H), 3.37˜4.38 (4H),                                  4.64 (1H, br), 5.12 (3H, br), 5.37 (1H, t,                                    J=7), 6.89 (1H, t, J=7), 10.82 (1H, br)                                       1.20˜1.85 (6H), 1.62 (9H, s), 1.68 (6H,                                 s), 1.85˜2.40 (17H), 3.35˜4.36                                    (4H), 3.97 (2H, s), 4.62 (1H, br), 5.12 (3H,                                  br), 5.37 (2H, br)                                  5                                                                              ##STR23##                                                                              HOOC HOH.sub.2 C                                                                    Oil 1.17 Oil 1.06                                                                   540 526                                                                           (as methyl ester) 1.30˜1.76 (6H), 1.58                                  (12H, s), 1.68 (3H, s), 1.83 (3H, s),                                         1.87˜2.32 (20H), 3.36˜4.36 (4H),                                  3.73 (3H, s), 4.61 (1H, br), 5.10 (4H, br),                                   5.35 (1H, t, J=7), 6.72 (1H, t,                                               J=7) 1.12˜1.79 (6H, br), 1.61 (12H, s),                                 1.68 (6H, s), 1.78˜2.32 (21H),                                          3.30˜4.40 (4H), 3.97 (2H, s), 4.61 (1H,                                 br), 5.10 (4H, br), 5.35 (2H, t, J=7)               2                                                                              ##STR24##                                                                              HOOC  Oil 3.33                                                                            342 (as methyl ester) 1.61 (3H, s), 1.64 (3H, s),                                 1.82 (3H, s), 1.96˜2.40 (8H), 3.72 (3H,                                 s), 4.01 (2H, d, J=7), 4.49 (2H, s), 5.12                                     (1H, t, J=7), 5.38 (1H, t, J=7), 6.71 (1H, t,                                 J=7), 7.04˜7.42 (5H)                          3                                                                              ##STR25##                                                                              HOOC  Oil 14.2                                                                            410 (as methyl ester) 1.62 (6H, s), 1.65 (3H, s),                                 1.83 (3H, s), 1.90˜2.42 (12H), 3.73                                     (3H, s), 4.03 (2H, d, J=7), 4.52 (2H, s),                                     5.12 (2H, br), 5.36 (1H, t, J=7), 6.87 (1H,                                   t, J=7), 7.05˜7.45 (5H)                       4                                                                              ##STR26##                                                                              HOOC  Oil 16.8                                                                            478 (as methyl ester) 1.61 (9H, s), 1.65 (3H, s),                                 1.84 (3H, s), 1.92˜2.40 (16H), 3.75                                     (3H, s), 4.01 (2H, d, J=7), 4.51 (2H, s),                                     5.12 (3H, br), 5.36 (1H, t, J=7), 6.81 (1H,                                   t, J=7), 7.00˜7.46 (5H)                     __________________________________________________________________________

(b) Elimination of protecting group

(1) Tetrahydropyranyl ether

To 6 ml of pyridine was added 2.35 g of p-toluene-sulfonic acid, and themixture was stirred at room temperature for 20 min. The solvent wasevaporated, and the residue was washed with acetone and dissolved inwater (3.15 mg/ml). To 100 mg of the20-(2-tetrahydropyranyl)-oxy-2,6,10,14,18-pentamethyl-2,6,10,14,18-eicosapentaenoicacid obtained as described in the previous (a) section was added 4 ml ofthe aqueous solution obtained as described above. The mixture was thenstirred at 55° C. for 3 hours, and cooled. Then the mixture wasextracted with 50 ml of diethyl ether, and the extract was evaporated toremove the solvent, giving 82 mg of20-hydroxy-2,6,10,14,18-pentamethyl-2,6,10,14,18-eicosapentaenoic acid.

Other tetrahydropyranyl ethers obtained in the previous (a) section weretreated in the same manner to eliminate the protecting groups.

(2) Benzyl ether

To 150 ml of ethylamine was added piece by piece 1.7 g of wire-shapedmetallic lithium (containing 1% sodium) at -78° C. in a nitrogen stream.The mixture was left to reach -20° C. so as to dissolve the addedlithium metal completely therein. Subsequently, the solution was againcooled to -78° C.

In 50 ml of tetrahydrofuran was dissolved 5 g of the16-benzyloxy-2,6,10,14-tetramethyl-2,6,10,14-hexadecatetraenoic acidobtained as described in the previous (a) section. This solution wasadded dropwise to the above-prepared lithium solution over a period of30 min. The mixture was stirred for 30 min., and 1,3-butadiene wasintroduced into the mixture until the color of the mixture (blue) faded.To the resulting yellow colored solution was added methanol until theyellow faded. Subsequently, this was left standing to reach roomtemperature. The solid product thus obtained was collected on a filter,and then dissolved in water. The aqueous solution was made weakly-acidicby addition of 1N hydrochloric acid under ice-cooling, and thenextracted with hexane. The extract was washed successively with waterand a saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution, and then dried overmagnesium sulfate. The dried extract was concentrated, and thethus-obtained concentrate was purified over a silica gel column to give3.3 g of 16-hydroxy-2,6,10,14-tetramethyl-2,6,10,14-hexadecatetraenoicacid.

Other benzyl ethers obtained as described in the previous (a) sectionwere treated in the same manner to eliminate the protecting groups.

The products obtained in the above-described manner are set forth inTable 4, together with data such as physical state, yield, mass spectrumand NMR spectrum. In Table 4, the yields with the * mark indicate yieldsfor the reactions of eliminating the protecting groups from the benzylethers obtained in the above (2) section, while the yields with no markindicate yields for the reactions of eliminating the protecting groupsfrom the tetrahydropyranyl ethers obtained in the above (1) section.

                                      TABLE 4                                     __________________________________________________________________________     ##STR27##                                                                            Physical                                                                      State Mass                                                            n R     Yield (%)                                                                           (M+)                                                                              NMR (δ, CDCl.sub.3)                                   __________________________________________________________________________    1 HOOC  Oil   184 1.69 (3H, s), 1.84 (3H, s), 2.02˜2.50 (4H, m),                          4.18 (2H, d, J=7),                                                  98        5.32 (1H, t, J=7), 6.86 (1H, t, J=6), 7.02 (2H, br)         1 OHC   Oil   168 1.67 (3H, s), 1.75 (3H, s), 1.96˜2.30 (5H, m),                          4.20 (2H, d, J=7),                                                  99        5.30 (1H, t, J=7), 6.46 (1H, t, J=6), 9.50 (1H, s)          2 HOOC  Oil   252 1.62 (3H, s), 1.69 (3H, s), 1.84 (3H, s),                                     1.90˜2.40 (8H), 4.14                                          96        (2H, d, J=7), 5.12 (1H, t, J=6), 5.42 (1H, t, J=7),                           6.80 (2H,                                                           *77       br), 6.87 (1H, t, J=6)                                      3 HOH.sub.2 C                                                                         Oil   306 1.60 (6H, s), 1.67 (6H, s), 1.92˜2.45 (14H), 3.97                       (2H, s), 4.16                                                       96        (2H, d, J=7), 5.10 (2H, br), 5.40 (2H, br)                  3 HOOC  Oil   320 1.60 (6H, s), 1.67 (3H, s), 1.83 (3H, s),                                     1.90˜2.40 (12H), 4.15                                         97        (2H, d, J=7), 5.10 (2H, br), 5.41 (1H, t, J=7), 6.76                          (2H, br),                                                           *85       6.85 (1H, t, J=6)                                           4 HOOC  Oil   388 1.60 (9H, s), 1.67 (3H, s), 1.83 (3H, s),                                     1.87˜2.44 (16H), 4.14                                         100       (2H, d, J=7), 5.10 (3H, br), 5.40 (1H, t, J=7), 6.80                          (2H, br),                                                           *82       6.86 (1H, t, J=6)                                           4 HOH.sub.2 C                                                                         Oil   374 1.62 (9H, s), 1.67 (6H, s), 1.87˜2.35 (18H), 3.98                       (2H, s), 4.15                                                       97        (2H, d, J=7), 5.11 (3H, br), 5.40 (2H, br)                  5 HOOC  Oil   456 1.61 (12H, s), 1.68 (3H, s), 1.83 (3H, s),                                    1.83˜2.40 (20H), 4.13                                         98        (2H, d, J=7), 5.10 (4H, br), 5.42 (1H, t, J=7), 6.80                          (2H, br),                                                                     6.86 (1H, t, J=6)                                           5 HOH.sub.2 C                                                                         Oil   442 1.61 (12H, s), 1.68 (6H, s), 1.76˜2.32 (22H),                           3.96 (2H, s), 4.13                                                  97        (2H, d, J=7), 5.10 (4H, br), 5.42 (2H,                      __________________________________________________________________________                      br)                                                     

EXAMPLE 2

    ______________________________________                                        Capsule                                                                       ______________________________________                                        16-Hydroxy-2,6,10,14-   5     g                                               tetramethyl-2,6,10,14-                                                        hexadecatetraenoic acid                                                       Micro-crystalline cellulose                                                                           80    g                                               Corn starch             20    g                                               Lactose                 22    g                                               Polyvinylpyrolidone     8     g                                               ______________________________________                                    

The above-listed components were granulated in a conventional manner andfilled in a gelatine hard capsule. One capsule contained 10 mg of theprincipal active agent.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A process for the preparation of a compound having the formula (I): ##STR28## in which n is an integer of from 1 to 5, A' is 2-tetrahydropyranyl, benzyl, methoxymethyl or methoxyethoxymethyl, and R is hydroxymethyl, formyl or carboxyl, which comprises the steps of:cultivating Nocardia BPM 1613, FERM-P No. 1609, in a nutritive culture medium in the presence of a compound having the formula (II): ##STR29## in which n and A' have the same meanings as defined above, whereby said microorganism utilizes said compound of the general formula (II) as a carbon source and oxidizes said compound (II), thereby converting said compound (II) into said compound (I); and recovering the thus-produced compound having the general formula (I).
 2. A process as claimed in claim 1, further comprising isolating said compound having the formula (I) after said recovery step.
 3. A process for the preparation of a compound having the formula (I): ##STR30## in which n is an integer of from 1 to 5, and R is hydroxymethyl, formyl or carboxyl, which comprises the steps of:cultivating Nocardia BPM 1613, FERM-P No. 1609, in a nutritive culture medium in the presence of a compound having the formula (II): ##STR31## in which n has the same meaning as defined above, and A' is 2-tetrahydropyranyl, benzyl, methoxymethyl or methoxyethoxymethyl, whereby said microorganism utilizes said compound of the general formula (II) as a carbon source and oxidizes said compound (II), thereby converting said compound (II) into a compound of the formula (III): ##STR32## recovering the thus-produced compound having the general formula (III) from said culture medium; and hydrolyzing said compound (III) to eliminate the group A' therefrom, thereby forming said compound (I).
 4. A process according to claim 1 or claim 3, wherein said medium is maintained at a pH of 7 to
 10. 5. A process according to claim 4, wherein the cultivation is carried out for 3 to 5 days at a temperature in the range of 20° to 40° C. under aerobic conditions.
 6. A process as claimed in claim 1 or claim 3, wherein said culture medium comprises a nitrogen source selected from the group consisting of potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium chloride, ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonia and urea, an inorganic salt selected from the group consisting of potassium phosphate, sodium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, ferrous sulfate and magnesium sulfate, and an organic nutrient source selected from the group consisting of vitamins, amino acids, yeast extract, corn steep liquor and malt extract.
 7. A process as claimed in claim 3, further comprising isolating said compound having the formula (I) after said recovery step. 